Panthera probably evolved in Asia, but the roots of the genus remain unclear. Genetic studies indicate that pantherine cats diverged from the subfamily Felinae between six and ten million years ago. Fossil records that appear to belong within the Panthera genus reach only 2.0 to 3.8 million years back.
Symbols. 1  The Screech Owl is the sacred bird of Hades. 2  Cypress Tree are the trees sacred to Hades, Aphrodite, and Artemis. 3  Cerberus, was his three headed pet dog is a symbol of his. 4  Snakes were sacred to him due to his previous role as a snake god called Zeus Meilichios.
The symbolic animal of Athena, the owl, was also related to the realm of the dead. According to one story, Ascalaphus, the son of Acheron and Gergyra (which is a variant of Gorgon and thereby has a relation to Athena), was to blame for Persephone's enthrallment with Hades -- he revealed that she had eaten part of the pomegranate, or he even seduced her into doing it.